Crossword puzzles are basically a mental battleground where the constructor tries to outsmart you with a single, devious word. You've probably been there, staring at your phone or the physical paper, three coffees deep, wondering why a three or four-letter word is ruining your entire Tuesday morning. Lately, the phrase take to the door NYT has been popping up in search bars because the New York Times crossword—the gold standard of grid-based torture—loves to play with the concept of exiting, ushering, and the literal mechanics of a doorway.
It’s frustrating.
The NYT Crossword doesn’t just want the literal answer; it wants you to understand the "vibe" of the clue. When you see a clue like "take to the door," your brain immediately goes to "evict" or "fire." But in the world of Will Shortz and Joel Fagliano, the answer is usually much tighter, punchier, and often involves a clever bit of synonym-swapping that makes perfect sense only after you’ve solved it.
The Most Common Answers for Take to the Door NYT
If you are stuck on a current grid, let's just get to the point. The most frequent answer for this specific clue is SEE OUT.
It’s a classic NYT maneuver. "See out" fits that awkward six-letter gap that shows up in Wednesday or Thursday puzzles. It’s polite. It’s professional. If you are hosting a dinner party and you "take someone to the door," you are seeing them out. But wait—crosswords are rarely that linear. Sometimes the puzzle is looking for EJECT. If the tone of the surrounding clues is more aggressive or sports-themed, "eject" is a high-probability candidate.
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Then there's the shorter, three-letter variation. OUT.
Seriously. Sometimes the simplest answer is the one we overlook because we’re looking for something profound. If the clue is "Take to the door?" with that pesky little question mark at the end, the constructor is signaling a pun. In that case, you might be looking for ADMIT (as in, taking someone through the door) or even SHOW.
Why the Question Mark Changes Everything
In NYT Crossword parlance, a question mark at the end of a clue is a warning sign. It’s a red flag. It means: "I am lying to you, but in a fun way."
When "take to the door" has no punctuation, it’s a literal synonym search. You want words like ESCORT, USHER, or CONDUCT. These are the "Monday/Tuesday" answers. They are straightforward. They don't want to hurt you. They just want you to finish the puzzle and feel good about your vocabulary.
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But add that question mark? Now we’re in the weeds.
I’ve seen "take to the door" used to clue things like SASH. Why? Because a sash is something you might literally "take to" (attach to) a door frame in certain architectural contexts, though that's a bit of a stretch even for the NYT. More likely, a punny version of this clue might lead to KNOB or HINGE. You "take" your hand to the door knob. It’s a bit "groaner" status, but that’s the charm of the New York Times style.
The Evolution of Crossword Logic in 2026
Crosswords have changed. Honestly, the shift toward more "indie" style cluing—even in the legacy NYT—means that constructors are leaning harder into conversational English. We aren't just looking for Latin roots anymore. We’re looking for how people actually talk.
"Take to the door" is a phrase that feels slightly formal, which is why USHER remains a perennial favorite. It’s a word we don't use much in real life unless we're at a wedding or a movie theater, but in the crossword universe, ushers are everywhere. They are the hardest-working people in the grid.
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Tips for Cracking These Clues Fast
Don't just guess. Look at the crossings. If you have a "take to the door" clue at 42-Across, and 12-Down is a "Bird that goes 'whoo,'" you know the second letter of your door-phrase is 'O'.
- Check the Tense: If the clue is "Took to the door," the answer must be past tense. Look for SAW OUT or ESCORTED.
- Count Your Letters: This sounds obvious, but people get stuck trying to fit "SEE OUT" into a five-letter space. If it's five letters, try USHER.
- The "Re" Factor: Sometimes the answer is REPEL or REJECT, especially if the context is about turning someone away rather than being a polite host.
The NYT Crossword is a conversation between you and the constructor. When they say "take to the door," they are asking you to visualize the physical act of moving someone from the inside of a room to the outside.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Solve
Next time you hit a wall with take to the door NYT, stop looking at the clue and look at the day of the week.
If it's Monday, go with USHER or SHOW.
If it's Saturday, get ready for something weird like EXITED or a specific type of door like STORM.
The best way to get better at these is to recognize the "repeater" words. "See out," "Usher," and "Escort" are the holy trinity of door-related clues. If you memorize those three, you’ve basically solved 80% of the door-based problems the NYT will ever throw at you. Also, keep an eye out for the word ADMIT. It’s the "inverse" take to the door—bringing someone in—and constructors love to use it to flip your expectations.
Go back to your grid. Check the vowels. Usually, the 'O' in "out" or the 'E' in "usher" will be your saving grace.